Thompson is hoping the odds are much higher in his favor this week after reportedly getting worse results from his freshman reliever’s latest mononucleosis test.

After getting the mono diagnosis over two weeks ago, Thompson told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday that Greenhill’s count of specific white blood cells, which are called lymphocytes, actually went up from the previous week making his inactive for Auburn’s trip to Kentucky last weekend.

Auburn (20-5, 3-3 SEC) certainly needed the Russellville native they’ve nicknamed “The Bull” because of his aggressive style and demeanor on the mound in a series. It gave up a two-run lead in a loss on Friday night and then lost the series by losing the second game of Sunday's doubleheader.

Opponents are hitting just .182 against Greenhill, who earned three saves in seven appearances over 18 1/3 innings this season before being shelved after his last outing on March 10.

“We’ll test him again on Wednesday,” Thompson said. “Him and his family tested a second time on their own to look at it over the weekend because this kid is ready and chomping at the bit. I’m hoping Wednesday is a go. As good as Cody is and we believe in him and we want him to be a part of that piece.”

However, Thompson understands that just sliding Greenhill back into a closer's role shortly after being medically cleared from a virus like mononucleosis might not be feasible.

“Is he sharp? He says he feels better than he had for like his last two or three outings that he had, but he’s not a robot. He hadn’t pitched for a period of time just being back in a ballgame,” Thompson said. “Do I just throw him into the biggest game on the line when he hasn’t pitched in two or three weeks? That’s going to be the million dollar question. When he gets restored and gets back, are we going to be able to get him an outing before it’s really, really a game time for an SEC game? He’s never thrown a pitch in an SEC ballgame.”

One piece that will continue to miss Southeastern Conference action is left-handed senior Andrew Mitchell, who continues his rehabilitation from forearm soreness.

The fifth-year senior hasn’t seen action since Feb. 27 when he struck out six over four innings in a 7-6 win at South Alabama. Mitchell’s MRI scan in Birmingham came back clean and the southpaw tossed a supervised bullpen session Friday at Plainsman Park while Auburn was beginning its series at Kentucky.

“He definitely will not be on our 27-man with Missouri this week, this Easter series, and hopefully we get him back the next weekend,” Thompson said. “If nothing changes, I think this will be his last weekend out.”